Community Development - Building
Contractor License Guide
Charlotte County Code Section 3-2-6 (a) requires that it shall be unlawful for any person to engage in the business or act in the capacity of a contractor, or advertise as available to engage in the business, or act in the capacity of a contractor, without first obtaining a Certificate of Competency or being duly certified by the state.
This guide has been developed to assist you in obtaining a Certificate of Competency (Contractor License) from Charlotte County.
To obtain a contractor license you are required to submit the following with your application:
- Documentation of related experience, see back for number of years required. Documentation is to be on letterhead stationery from the employer(s), indicating the exact dates of employment, type of work and duties performed, and must be notarized.
If you are applying for a license as an individual (legal first and last name) you only need the information above, otherwise you are required to submit the following with your application:
- If you are applying for a license under a fictitious name, provide a copy of the fictitious name recording that has been registered with the Secretary of State of Florida.
- If the company is a corporation, provide a copy of Certificate of Incorporation, minutes indicating current officers names and titles and a Resolution of Authorization (this states that the applicant is authorized to apply for a license to qualify the corporation).
- If a partnership, you will need to complete the Partnership Agreement Form.
- Letters of reciprocity are accepted from the county from which the exam was taken, stating exam date, type of exam, and grade received (75% or higher is required). Letters of reciprocity must include the number of years experience submitted by the applicant prior to taking the exam. Both trade and business, and law exams are required. The exam taken MUST be the same exam Charlotte County offers. NO SUBSTITUTIONS ARE ALLOWED.
- Copy of current picture identification such as a driver’s license with current home address shown.
- A credit report sent directly to this office from the credit bureau on your personal credit and your business credit must be provided. If you are applying to change the company name, you will need a credit report on the old company name also.
- A check for the application fees made out to the Charlotte County Board of County Commission (CCBCC) for the licensing period. (Fees are listed in the table below.) Please call 941.743.1201 if you are unsure of the amount due. This fee is non-refundable after the application is reviewed.
- A passport type photo of yourself attached to the application.
- An original certificate of insurance on worker's compensation showing Charlotte County Building as the certificate holder which indicates the insured's name, company name and address, and the policy number. If exempt, submit a copy of the approved worker's compensation exemption from the Department of Labor (State). Proof of insurance is not required until the application is approved. Certificate must be in the exact name of the business in which you are to qualify and must indicate that the qualifier is covered under the policy if this division is not also provided with a worker’s compensation exemption for the qualifier.
- An original certificate of insurance stating general liability with limits of $300,000 bodily injury and $50,000 property damage or $300,000 combined single limit liability (State Electrical Board limits are higher) showing Charlotte County Building as the certificate holder which indicates the insured's name, company name and address, and the policy or binder number. Proof of insurance is not required until the application is approved. Certificate must be in the exact name of the business in which you are to qualify.
- Copy of current active state registration license is required for the following trades: General, Building, Residential Contractor, Master Electrician, Master Plumber, Air Conditioning (A,B,C), Mechanical, Swim Pool (A,B,C), Roofing, Sheet Metal, Underground Utility, or Solar Energy. If you do not currently hold a state registration for the above categories, once the license has been issued by the county, the applicant must register with the Department of Business & Professional Regulations and provide Charlotte County Building with a copy of the state registered license prior to conducting business.
Contractor Licenses Offered by Charlotte County:
To find out what construction trades apply to each contractor license, view the Contractor Licensing Definitions
** Exams are required for all licenses EXCEPT Job Site Cleanup **
| Name of License | Years of Experience Required |
Application Fee |
Acoustical & Insulation |
3 yrs. |
$150.00 |
Air Conditioning:Class A (unlimited size) |
4 yrs. |
$200.00 |
Air Conditioning:Class B (size limits) |
4 yrs. |
$200.00 |
Aluminum/Concrete |
4 yrs. |
$200.00 |
Asphalt Paving and Coating |
3 yrs. |
$150.00 |
Building Class B |
4yrs. |
$250.00 |
Building Demolition (Non-explosive) |
4 yrs. |
$150.00 |
Carpentry - Structural |
3 yrs. |
$150.00 |
Ceramic Tile, Terrazzo & Marble |
3 yrs. |
$150.00 |
Concrete/Masonry |
3 yrs. |
$150.00 |
Concrete Place & Finish |
3 yrs. |
$150.00 |
Door/window/garage door |
3 yrs. |
$150.00 |
Drywall |
3 yrs. |
$150.00 |
Electrical: Master |
6 yrs. |
$200.00 |
Electrical: Journeyman |
4 yrs. |
$50.00 |
Fence |
3 yrs. |
$150.00 |
General Class A |
4 yrs. |
$300.00 |
Glass & Glazing |
3 yrs. |
$150.00 |
Grade, Fill, & Clearing |
3 yrs. |
$150.00 |
Job Site Cleanup |
3 yrs. |
$150.00 |
Landscaping-Commercial |
3 yrs. |
$150.00 |
Lawn Irrigation |
3 yrs. |
$150.00 |
Marine Construction |
3 yrs. |
$150.00 |
Mechanical |
4 yrs. |
$200.00 |
Painting |
3 yrs. |
$150.00 |
Pile Driving |
3 yrs. |
$150.00 |
Plaster, Stucco, & Spraycrete |
3 yrs. |
$150.00 |
Plumbing: Master |
6 yrs. |
$200.00 |
Plumbing: Journeyman (not req.) |
4 yrs. |
$50.00 |
Residential Class C |
4 yrs. |
$200.00 |
Roofing |
4 yrs. |
$200.00 |
Sign: Non-electrical |
3 yrs. |
$150.00 |
Sign: Electrical |
3 yrs. |
$150.00 |
Structural Steel |
3 yrs. |
$150.00 |
Swimming Pool/Spa: Water treatment and cleaning |
3 yrs. |
$150.00 |
Swimming Pool/Spa: Class A-Commercial |
4 yrs. |
$200.00 |
Swimming Pool/Spa: Class B-Residential |
4 yrs. |
$200.00 |
Swimming Pool/Spa: Class C-Maint./Repair |
4 yrs. |
$200.00 |
Underground Utility |
4 yrs. |
$200.00 |
Licenses offered through the State:
Alarm System I
Alarm System II
Building Moving/Demolition/Explosive
Elevator Installation
Fire Extinguish-Dry
Fire Sprinkler System
Fire Suppression System
Liquid Petroleum Gas
Mobile Home Dealers & Manufacturers
Mobile Home Set-up
Pollutant Storage
Septic Tank (through Environmental Health)
Solar Systems
Specialty (Drywall, Specialty Structure)
Miscellaneous Licenses:
Water Conditioner Installer (Not Licensed)
Well Drill (Issued through "SWFWMD")
Local Business Tax Receipt Information:
After approval and prior to the issuance of your certificate of competency, you must obtain a Local Business Tax Receipt. To obtain the Local Business Tax Receipt, please call 941.743.1350 or stop by the Tax Collector’s office in Room 241, 18500 Murdock Circle, Port Charlotte, FL. For additional information, visit their website at www.cctaxcol.com.
Reciprocal Local Business Tax receipts for State Registered or Certified Contractors are accepted.
Contact Information
Building Division Main Office:
Charlotte County Administrative Complex
18400 Murdock Circle
Port Charlotte, FL 33948
Main Number: 941.743.1201
Fax Number: 941.764.4907
Automatic Inspection System: 941.833.4086
Online Inspection System - register on the Online Services webpage
bcs@charlottefl.com
Office hours: Monday - Friday 7:30 AM - 4:45PM
Toll free phone number for Englewood residents:Â 941.681.3768
